The impact of residential development and municipal greenery on the thermal conditions of the city gullies in Lublin

Abstract

Urbanization is a serious threat to the soil cover. It entails
the process of soil sealing thereby limiting soil functions.
The local climate is also affected – sealed areas absorb heat, therefore
temperature above them is increasing. It contributes to the
formation of an urban heat island, which negatively affects the
quality of human life. In the two surveyed gullies in Lublin, 35
measurement points were located, in which two temperature sensors
were placed: one at a height of 1.5 m and the other in the soil
at a depth of 0.15 m. The measurement points were located at different
distances from the buildings (from 10 to 236 m in a straight
line) and in the areas with different types of vegetation – trees,
shrubs and grass. Research carried out in two gullies in Lublin revealed
that the differences in air temperature at various locations
were even 10 degrees Celsius depending on the distance from the
buildings, the type of plant cover and soil characteristics. Large
temperature variability could be observed even within a small
area. The negative impact of buildings on the air temperature in
the city is eliminated by proper distribution of green areas, reducing
the temperature by up to 7 degrees Celsius. The process of
soil sealing cannot be avoided. Therefore, land intended for urbanisation
should be used rationally. The spatial planning process
should take into account not only land for infrastructure but also
for green areas to reduce negative impact of soil sealing on the
quality of life of the residents.